Telemundo sets deals

Will partner with Argos to produce in Mexico

NBCU’s Spanish-lingo unit Telemundo Media is ramping up its production and distribution capabilities with new partnerships unveiled at NATPE.

TM has teamed up with Mexico’s Argos Television to produce skeins and telenovelas in Mexico and inked a 600-hour global distribution pact with Cadena 3 in Mexico and Televen in Venezuela.

Under the terms of the deal, Argos TV will provide production services to TM’s production arm Telemundo Studios, led by Joshua Mintz, for a dramatic skein and two novelas. Telemundo Studios will oversee the project while Argos will provide the equipment and staff to execute all local production.

Argos partnered with Telemundo Studios to produce certain episodes of its hit novela “La Reina del Sur” in Mexico last year and has produced highly rated novelas for Telemundo Studios, including “Los Plateados,” “Gitanas” and “Marina.”

Telemundo Intl., the international division of Telemundo Media led by prexy Marcos Santana, inked a three-year global distribution agreement with Cadena 3 from Mexico (Grupo Imagen) and Televen from Venezuela (Grupo Camero) to distribute 600 hours of high-def novelas in international markets except Mexico and Venezuela.

Agreement includes the distribution of six novelas featuring an international cast and global appeal; the first is already in pre-production.